Buon Weekend: Padre Pio and Colossal Bistecche!
Tucked just outside the city, a spiritual daughter of Padre Pio has set up a Center of prayer and charity…and close by, a magnificent restaurant!
If you’re heading over to Italy, and are a devotee to St Padre Pio, it is very likely you’ve scheduled a trip “across the boot” to San Giovanni Rotondo. If, however, time does not permit you to drive those 8+ hours (total) to and from Rome (although, you can ask several people…I’ve done it in a day!), there are a few places around Rome, dedicated to St Padre Pio.
Irene Gaeta is a spiritual daughter of Padre Pio with a deep (ongoing) relationship with the Saint and an extraordinary personal story. At 85yrs old, Gaeta—the Foundress of the “Disciples of Padre Pio”—has been busy building a state-of-the-art paediatric cancer research hospital in Calabria. That story will be for another post at another time.
When she’s not traveling, Irene often welcomes visitors to the St Padre Pio “Hospitality House and Spiritual Centre” she founded just outside the city, in the suburb of Vitinia. The chapel in this unassuming house holds many first-class and second class relics of St Padre Pio, with Irene always wearing the personal crucifix (given at reception of vows) of the saint—who personally willed it to her (another story, for another time).
For those of my readers who are seeking worthy charitable missions to tithe to, Irene is the real deal.
After visiting Irene and the Disciples, you might find yourselves hungry for some authentic, rustica food.
No need to drive far, my second-favourite steak joint was introduce to me by my dear friend, Danielle…and serves my FAVOURITE beer, Birra Nursia!
This beer is made by the Benedictine Monks in Norcia, and only available for shipping in Italy AND the United States! I cannot recommend it enough, especially the dark “Extra”, paired with a steak (or Thanksgiving Turkey) dinner!
I was invited to be a brand ambassador for the beer, last year, so if interested in testing my (impeccably good) taste—use this link, and send me feedback!
So…to that restaurant recommendation!
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